I hate New Year's resolutions.
It often seems like another way to put more pressure on an already pressured life. "Let's see, you've done your best this year but apparently that's not quite good enough. You're a mess! Let's see if we can step it up this year and up those approval ratings. Now drop and give me 20!"
Why on earth did this tradition ever get started!? Perhaps we all need a regular check-up to see just how we're doing. If we let the years slip by without evaluating ourselves at some point we could let our life get away from us (cause it doesn't do that already). How are we going to know where we stand, what we've improved upon, what needs improvement if we don't sit down and take a look at ourselves.
In order to get a good resolution one must first be honest with oneself, even brutally so. Let's face it, getting down to a size 4 is impossible for me and what else is left after that? I read an article once that talked about realistic resolutions. Why try to do the impossible. Why not try something you actually enjoy? Resolve to take more bubble baths, eat more chocolate, exercise less, and watch more TV. Those are very doable as well as enjoyable. So why can't I feel good about that kind of resolve? Is it because it's too easy? Do I actually need to do something that will improve my life.
In light of my sick need to be a better person, I have decided to make one New Year's Resolution. Do more service this coming year. I'm not exactly sure what I mean by that. More service by the week? day? year? I feel I should start out slow if it even has a chance of getting off the ground. Perhaps I should settle with doing my visiting teaching regularly. Hmm...
Interesting statistic:
"Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a Resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends" -Wikipedia
Amen... I hate New Year's Resolutions, the fewer made the fewer broken! Of course this might not be so bad if mine really were realistic and I kept them... hmmmmm, although I do like the eat more chocolate, I think I can stick to that one ALL year.
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